PLATFORMS USED IN ONLINE EDUCATION AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF STUDENTS' LEARNING IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA, CAMEROON

Abstract This study investigated the influence of online education platforms on the enhancement of students’ learning at the University of Buea. Specifically, the study examined the influence of Coursera and Moodle on students’ learning outcomes. Two research objectives were formulated to guide the study, and these were subsequently transformed into research questions and hypotheses. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A four-point Likert-scale questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection. Through simple random sampling, four establishments of the University of Buea were selected for the study, while accidental sampling technique was employed in administering the questionnaire to a sample of 357 students. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics involved frequencies and percentages, whereas inferential statistics were analysed using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. Findings revealed that both Coursera and Moodle significantly influence the enhancement of students’ learning at the University of Buea. The study concluded that the effective use of online learning platforms positively contributes to students’ academic engagement and learning outcomes. Based on these findings, the study recommended that students and instructors should increasingly integrate and maximise the use of Coursera and Moodle in the teaching-learning process in order to improve academic performance and promote effective online education practices within the university. Keywords: Online Education, Coursera, Moodle, Students’ Learning, University of Buea